Healthy Ways to Create a Routine that Works for You
The term “healthy” is often thrown around quite a lot within social media and society in general. This term can look and mean very different things depending on the person, and there is not truly one specific definition that can fully encompass what a “healthy” person will look like.
As the new year begins, you may have come across different diets to start in the new year, some of which include the 75 Hard Challenge (or its alter ego—75 Soft Challenge). While both of these diets/challenges can boost one’s motivation to change their lifestyle for the new year, it can also encourage a negative perception of one’s physical and mental abilities.
Rather than beginning a rigorous diet or beginning a challenge, it may also be a good idea to start the year off by creating a stable morning routine and night routine to eventually build up to participating in physical challenges.
Here are 5 tips for creating a routine that works for you!
1. Fix Your Sleep Schedule
You may have gotten used to going to bed at 3am and waking up at 1pm, however, this sleep schedule will (likely) not work when returning to the academic year. Developing a night routine, one where you can slowly unravel for the night prior to sleeping, is incredibly important when fixing one’s sleep schedule. This can be done by remembering to set your alarm for the following morning, limiting screen time prior to going to bed, and doing some wind down activities such as meditation or reading to increase sleepiness.
2. Eat a Healthy Breakfast
While not all of us may feel as if we want to eat breakfast in the morning, and can live off our iced coffees (guilty!), our bodies need healthy fuel to function, especially during the early mornings. Whether that be some overnight oats as you’re running out the door, or stopping by your favourite breakfast place to enjoy a full meal, food is fuel and an important part of a healthy routine. If you are looking for some inspiration, check out this article for some ideas!
3. Set Goals for Your Day
Goals are an important part of our daily lives—they give us something to strive for and can also provide us a routine, even on slow days. These goals do not have to be big ones (but they can be!). These daily to-do lists are a useful tool in keeping our lives organized, and can help with avoiding brain overload. There are some helpful apps for goal setting—for both academic and personal use—such as Finch, Everyday, and Habitify!
4. Prioritize Self-Care
While January can appear to be a month of constantly achieving goals and striving towards a healthier you, it is important to recognize that nothing will be achieved without taking care of yourself first. Taking time to practice personal hygiene, spending time with friends, or having your own spa day are all different ways you can practice self-care.
5. Make Time for Exercise
Exercise is an important part of our daily lives. Not everyone has time to spend hours in a gym, but there are other ways to exercise such as taking a walk outside, or completing a YouTube workout. By being physically active, it can help us balance out our busy schedules and allow us to be as alert and productive as possible.
- Makayla Foster, Peer Wellness Educator Lead
